Nora Duncan '68

MacMurray's strong liberal arts education not only exposed me to a world of culture and history that I knew little about; it also opened my eyes to possibilities, to challenges, and to meeting and exceeding goals. Because of the broad base of my education, I was able to pursue my dreams - even when they changed! I have changed careers about four times, and each time, I began with the attitude that I could do it - because MacMurray had prepared me for change.

Nora Kathryn Duncan graduated from MacMurray College with a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1968, where she was a member of the Mortar Board, Belles Lettres, Choir, the Theatre Interest group, and served in student government as president of the Women's Students' Association.

After graduation she received her J.D. of Law at Louisiana State University in 1973 and masters of international law from George Washington University in 1979. She worked in the office of the Attorney General of Louisiana, in private practice, and as an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service. She graduated with a master's of science degree in human service administration (MSHSA) from Louisiana State University-Shreveport (LSU-S) in 2007 and received the Academic Award in the MSHSA program for 2006-2007.

Since the fall of 2007, Duncan has been an adjunct instructor in the MSHSA program for LSU-S, teaching an online class called Nonprofit Organization Administration Theory and Research. An article she wrote during her time as a MSHSA student was published in the January/February 2008 issue of Nonprofit World Vol. 26 #1 entitled "Risk Management: How to Protect your Assets."

Duncan has been affiliated with many service organizations, including the Louisiana Coalition for Literacy, the Allen Parish Council on Aging where she currently is on the Board of Directors, Toastmasters International, the Oakdale Area United Way, and the Girl Scouts of Louisiana Pines to the Gulf Council. She is also a former member of the MacMurray Alumni Board, Allen Mental Health Board, Rotary, and the American Red Cross.

She was instrumental in the incorporation of Reading Education for Adult Development as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that provides free literacy services to adults and children in Allen Parish, where she formerly served as the executive director and has continued to serve as a volunteer literacy tutor and trainer since 1992. She also served as a volunteer for the United Way of Central Louisiana on the Crisis Resolution Goal Area Team in 2007 and 2008.

Duncan has received honors and commendations from Toastmasters, Rotary, the House of Representatives of the Louisiana Legislature, the Louisiana State Senate, and the State of Louisiana. She was honored in 2003 with a MacMurray College Community Service Award. She also received the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce Civic Service Award in 2005.

In 2004, she went on a "Footsteps to Paul" Biblical Study Tour to Greece and Italy. She is a member of Christ Church of Oakdale, a non-denominational spirit-filled church for which she writes and publishes the monthly newsletter "Good News." She also designs the monthly church calendar and is one of the leaders of "Through the Fire," a Bible-based support group for anyone going through trials in life. She sings in the Oakdale Interfaith Gospel Chorale, which is composed of members of many of Oakdale's Christian churches. She also performs in the Magnolia Chorale, which is a project of Allen Arts Council and performs once a year.